Return & Earn

The NSW Government is delivering the largest litter reduction scheme ever introduced in NSW.

Return and Earn will help reduce the 160 million drink containers littered in our environment each year. Drink containers make up almost half of the volume of litter in NSW.

Return and Earn is part of the NSW Governments commitment to reducing litter volume in NSW by 40 per cent by 2020.

Consumers can exchange an eligible container at an approved collection point to receive a 10 cent refund per container. Containers should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the original label attached.

How do I participate?

Consumers can exchange an eligible container at an approved collection point to receive a 10 cent refund per container. Containers should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the original label attached

Retail refund via a voucher that you can redeem for cash or use towards an instore credit at a partnering retailer (such as Woolworths)

Donate your refund to one of four charitable or community organisations shown on the reverse vending machine screen

Over-the-counter manual collection point you will receive 10 cents cash

Bondi Beach Reverse Vending Machine

As of June 2018 there will be a winter trial return and earn reverse vending machine (RVM) at Bondi Beach. The RVM is located behind the Bondi Pavilion in the carpark adjacent to Campbell Parade at Beach Road. The RVM will be in operation from 8.00am – 6.00pm, 7 days a week. Please note that the RVM will closed during the Sun-Herald City2Surf event on 12/08/2018.

The RVM is for general public use only; it is not for commercial business use.

By car? Enter the car park via North entrance and drive up to Reverse vending machineBy foot? Be sure to remain alert and aware of cars moving in and out of the car park

Help us keep Bondi beautiful. Please use rubbish and recycling bins next to the Return and Earn RVM to dispose of any rubbish, packaging or ineligible containers not accepted by the RVM.

To find other drop-off locations and for more information about the service, visit Return and Earn

Key features of Return and Earn are:

When the scheme is fully rolled out, there will be more than 500 collection points across the state, including in remote towns of more than 500 people and at 270 sites across the Greater Sydney Region

The 10-cent refund at reverse vending machines will be provided as a voucher for in store redemption, electronic transfer, cash or may be donated to a community group

Eligible containers include most glass, cans, plastic and paperboard drink containers between 150 millilitres and three litres - those most often found in the litter stream.

How will this benefit my community?

The main beneficiaries of the scheme are the environment and the community.Over the next 20 years, the scheme is expected to result in:

1.6 billion fewer beverage containers being littered

Almost 11 billion fewer beverage containers ending up in landfill

12.3 billion more beverage containers being recycled

What containers can be refunded?

Most empty 150 millilitre to three litre beverage containers will be eligible for a 10 cent refund when presented to an approved NSW collection point. Containers should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the original label attached. However, not all containers are included in the scheme. See below list for containers that are accepted and those that are not.

Container materials that may be eligible for a refund include:

PET

HDPE

Glass

Steel

Liquid paperboard

Aluminium

Containers that are not included in the scheme and therefore, do not qualify for a refund include:

Plain milk (or milk substitute) containers

Flavoured milk containers of one litre or more

Pure fruit or vegetable juice containers of one litre or more

Glass containers for wine and spirits

Casks (plastic bladders in boxes) for wine and casks for water

Containers for cordials and concentrated fruit/ vegetable juices

Registered health tonics

These drinks are predominantly consumed at home and are not found in the litter stream. They are also broadly similar to the exceptions in the South Australian and Northern Territory container deposit schemes, to aid consistency.

Should I continue to use my yellow-lid recycling bin?

Yes, please continue to use your home yellow lidded recycling bin for all recyclables, including those eligible for a refund, if you are unable to taken them directly to a drop off point.